Certificate III in Health Services Assistance

HLT33115

This page is updated when information changes, but it's always best to talk to your training provider to confirm course details before you enrol.

Overview

Train for a role in health care. Learn to assist with patient care, transport and daily clinical tasks.

This qualification reflects the role of a variety of workers who use a range of factual, technical and procedural knowledge to provide assistance to health professional staff for the care of clients. Health services assistance involves the worker in direct client contact under supervision.

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this qualification at the time of publication.

  • Financial help

    • Government funding is available for this course. Check your eligibility for:

      • Career Start (general)
      • Career Start (traineeship)

      *To be eligible for this funding, you have to do a traineeship.

      Check your eligibility

  • Cost

    Course costs can vary by provider and location. Ask your training provider for a cost estimate.

    • VET Student Loans are not available
    • You may need to pay for equipment or materials.

    To see how government funding could help to reduce the cost of your course, check your eligibility for funding.

  • On-the-job training

    • Completing this course through a traineeship can help you to learn the skills you need.

    These traineeships are available:

    • Patient Services Assistant - Health Services
    • Operating Theatre Assistant
    • Assistant in Nursing

    This course has 80 mandatory work placement hours.

  • Entry requirements

    This course doesn't have any entry requirements. It could be a good starting point for your career.

  • Duration

    You complete this course when you’ve learned the skills, not after a set amount of time. The times shown are estimates.

    • Through traineeship:
      1 year
    • Qualification only:
      1–2 years

  • Delivery options

    You may be able to access this training in these ways:

    • Workplace-based
    • Some classroom learning
    • Part-time available
    • Partially online
    • Practical learning

Course content

This course is made up of units.

All courses have core units—these are mandatory for completing the course. Most courses also have elective units, which you can choose from to suit your needs and interests. Not all training providers offer every elective, so check with your provider to find out which electives they can offer you.

For more information about course content, talk to your training provider or visit the National Training Register.

Unit Unit type
Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control Core
Communicate and work in health or community services Core
Interpret and apply medical terminology appropriately Core
Organise personal work priorities and development Core
Participate in workplace health and safety Core
Recognise healthy body systems Core
Work with diverse people Core
Apply and monitor food safety requirements Elective
Apply cook-freeze and reheating processes Elective
Assist with movement Elective
Assist with nursing care in an acute care environment Elective
Assist with preparation of clients for operative procedures Elective
Clean and disinfect reusable medical devices Elective
Conduct internal food safety audits Elective
Contribute to client flow and client information management in medical imaging Elective
Contribute to team effectiveness Elective
Develop and implement a food safety program Elective
Engage with health professionals and the health system Elective
Facilitate responsible behaviour Elective
Facilitate the empowerment of older people Elective
Facilitate the empowerment of people with disability Elective
Follow basic food safety practices Elective
Handle and care for operating theatre equipment Elective
Handle and move equipment, goods and mail Elective
Handle medical gases safely Elective
Maintain a high standard of service Elective
Organise and monitor cleaning operations Elective
Oversee the day-to-day implementation of food safety in the workplace Elective
Perform general cleaning tasks in a clinical setting Elective
Perform kitchenware washing Elective
Prepare and maintain beds Elective
Prepare foods suitable for a range of client groups Elective
Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety Elective
Promote innovation in a team environment Elective
Provide basic emergency life support Elective
Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation Elective
Provide First Aid Elective
Provide individualised support Elective
Provide intra-operative equipment and technical support Elective
Provide non-client contact support in an acute care environment Elective
Provide or assist with oral hygiene Elective
Provide support to people living with dementia Elective
Provide ward or unit based food preparation and distribution services Elective
Respond effectively to behaviours of concern Elective
Serve cafeteria customers Elective
Support the medical imaging professional Elective
Transport and store food Elective
Transport individuals Elective
Transport non-emergency patients under operational conditions Elective
Work in an alcohol and other drugs context Elective
Work with clients who are intoxicated Elective
Work with forced migrants Elective
Work with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness Elective
Work with people with mental health issues Elective

Job prospects

The Certificate III in Health Services Assistance sets you up for roles like these, but the skills you learn could take you even further.

  • Operating Theatre Technician

    ANZSCO 311214

    Operating Theatre Technicians prepare and maintain operating theatres and their equipment, assist the surgical team during operations and provide support to patients in the recovery room.

    Recommended education level:
    Certificate III or IV

  • Aged and Disabled Carer

    ANZSCO 423111

    Provide companionship and practical support to aged and disabled persons in their own homes

    Recommended education level:
    Certificate II or III

  • Hospital Orderly

    ANZSCO 423311

    Transport patients around a hospital, provide patient care and ensure wards are tidy.

    Recommended education level:
    Certificate II or III

  • Nursing Support Worker

    ANZSCO 423312

    Nursing Support Workers provide limited patient care under the direction of nursing staff.

    Recommended education level:
    Certificate II or III

  • Personal Care Assistant

    ANZSCO 423313

    Personal Care Assistants provide routine personal care services to people in a range of health care facilities or in a person's home.

    Recommended education level:
    Certificate II or III

  • Therapy Aide

    ANZSCO 423314

    Therapy Aides assist therapists in providing therapy programs and in the direct care of their patients in a variety of health, welfare and community settings.

    Recommended education level:
    Certificate II or III

Training providers delivering Certificate III in Health Services Assistance

It's a good idea to research multiple training providers to make sure you're getting the right training for you.

This course has a mandatory work placement. Skills Assure Suppliers help you to arrange a work placement. This service may not be available through other training providers.

Showing: 81 providers

How to enrol in this course

To enrol, choose a training provider that offers this course. You can see provider details on this page.

When you find one that you think suits you, visit their website or contact them directly to confirm details like start dates, fees, funding, delivery locations and delivery options.

The provider will guide you through the enrolment process.

Delivery locations can change as students enrol. If you're doing any workplace-based training, like an apprenticeship, this will take place in a different location from your classroom training. Contact your training provider to confirm delivery locations.
Government funding may be available. Contact your training provider to confirm.
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